Among the more annoying parts of doing laundry is the inevitable hunt for a missing sock. After this happened to me for about the millionth time, I turned to Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Home Care and Cleaning Lab at the Good Housekeeping Institute for advice. She shared her laundry trick to stop losing socks: Sock clips.
These affordable gadgets not only solve the recurring mystery of the lost sock, they also save me a ton of time when it comes to putting items away. I don't have to rummage through a huge pile of clothes looking for my sock's mate, since they're clipped together.
“Sock clips are an easy way to eliminate one tedious, time-consuming step in the laundry process, matching socks back up before putting them away. Simply slip the clips onto the dirty pair before putting them in the hamper and leave them on through the washer and dryer. Afterward, take them off the pair to use the next time. Keeping a bowl of clips near the hamper keeps them handy,” Forté says.
Consider this 30-piece set that’s just $12 on Amazon (you can also snag a pack of 50 clips for $15). One satisfied Amazon customer put a magnetic hook on their washing machine to hang their sock clips. Every family member has a designated color, too: “They come in different colors so each family member can be assigned one, makes for easy sorting,” the customer commented.
Finally, there’s an end to all those mismatched socks!
Monique Valeris is the home design director for Good Housekeeping, where she oversees the brand's home decorating coverage across print and digital. Prior to joining GH in 2020, she was the digital editor at Elle Decor. In her current role, she explores everything from design trends and home tours to lifestyle product recommendations, including writing her monthly column, "What's in My Cart."
